Repairing water pipes and equipment for use therein



Sept 27, 1949. T. N. YOUNG ETAL 2,483,082

REPAIRING'WATER PIPES AND EQUIPMENT FOR USE THEREIN Filed Nov. 26, 1945 6 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 Sept. 27, 1949. T. N. YOUNG ETAL 2,483,082

REPAIRING WATER PIPES AND EQUIPMENT FOR USE THEREIN Filed Nov. 26, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 27, 1949. 1-. N. YOUNG Er-AL 2,483,082

REPAIRING WATER PIPES AND EQUIPMENT FOR USE THEREIN Filed Nov. 26, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 27, 1949. r. N. YOUNG EFAL REPAIRING WATER PIPES AND EQUIPMENT FOR USE THEREIN Filed NOV. 26, 1945 '6Sheets-Sheet 4 EWUEH H kwl k k F W 27, 1949. I N, YOUNGl ETAL, 2,483,082

REPAIRING WATER PIPES AND EQUIPMENT FOR USE THEREIN Filed Nov. 26, 1945 e sheets-Sheet 5 '27 I g N 1 a: Q 2 I -A/TER J mM H9 M 1949" T. N. YOUNG ETAL 2,483,082

REPAIRING WATER PIPES AND EQUIPMENT FOR USE ,THEREIN Filed Nov. 26, 1.945 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Sept. 27,. 1949 QFFICE REPAIRING, WATE R PI-PESLAND EQUIPMENT! FoRUsE'rn-Eennw,

Agfiiieauoirndtifiber 26, whisper-N0. 630,908 I. In Great Britain December 18; 1944- -Glaims. 1 g In supplying water to domestic and other premises; itis common practice-to connect the premises to' mains" by separate service pipes. Most. of these service pipes are of standard small sizes and are fittedwith-stop-cocks. If a burst occurs on'a service pi'p'e between the main and the stop-cock, or ifFthe-stop-cockis defective and in"heed ofrepairaj'it "is'necessary to cut off the water from these'rvice pipe'concerned before the necessary repair work can be undertaken. Thisis'donebyshutting valves on the individual main. which supplies "the service pipe so as to isolate the part of the mainin question, and afterthe-va'lve's on the main have been closed, the main-and service pipe have-tobe emptied. The act of emptying the also empties all the service pipessupplying premises in the same road or district, and this; putsjthe water cons nners to considerableinconvenience and is a source of annoyancejand complaint.

Toqavoid these inconveniences, We have devised; apparatus, some"of"whieh are described and claimed in our application Serial No, 623308, filed October "1'9; 1945, for" temporarily" freezing a short length of the pipe so'asto stop the'fiow through it whilethe repair is being .efiected or any other-operation is being performed.

Naturally-n1 deliberately freeZi-nga pipe containing water or other liquid, there is a risk'of bursting or straining 'the' pipe or damaging fittings connected with it. The primary object of this inventionis to provide a method of'freezing a p'ipein which'any risk of bursting or strainingthe'pipe is eliminated. 3 'A further object isso to freeze a water pipe that a, hollow plug of ice gradually building up ra'dially'inwards' forrnswithin the pipe.

Anbther' object is to provide an improved methodof'repairing awater pipe.

jY'et" a further object is to provide improved equipment for use in repairing water pipes.

"Ac'cordingto this invention we reduce the flow through the-pipeto a controlled" trickle'ordrip and at a point where this trickle or drip is flowingQWe freeZe' the liquid in the pipe. In this way we canstop the flow completelyWithoutdamagingthepipe. When a water pipe'istreated'in this way, we find that the ice plug created within the pipe is formed initially as a hollowplug free to expand'both radially inwards and along the axis'of the pipe until the'fre'ezing' process. is complete and tlie'fiow'al'ong the pipe is stopped; by as solid plug withouteny significant expansion ofyj'or strain "the metal orothef materialj'of at first or a tubular section, builds up gradually with a diminishing bore from each endof theplug, until thepiug-iscompletelyformed, andthat duri-ng the building-up process, the pressure oft-he water both in the bore of the plug and oneach side of it never exceedsthe-pressure at which theliquid is supplied.

*Toproduce the controlled trickle or drip, we prefer-tomake a-bleed-portoroutlet'in the pipe downstream-of the length to be frozen or to provide s'uch-a bleedport or'outlet by a device assembled' around a'hole or split in the pipe and serving to restrict the flow fromt-he hole or split to the desired trickle or-drip. 'In the former case, thepipe maybe deformed by external pressure to-elose itcompletely-ata point downstream ofthelength to be frozen, and either a small hole may-then be made between this point andthe length'to be frozen, or a somewhat larger hole maybe' -made"andan-attachment inserted to redu'cethe fiow' to the desired trickle or drip. In the latter case'the device may make close contact with" the pipe at each: end and present a small outlet forthe escape of the water to the outside. Such adeyi'ce may comprise a two-part clip lined with rubberwhich rubber is grooved or recessed to lead the water to a drip cock. In, any case, thebl'eed port or outlet serves'th'e purely temporary p rpose of allowing flow to take place at the rate. of .a trickle or drip While the pipe is being frozen to stop. the flow. completely, and

when .thef reezing. is. complete, the length of the pipecontainingthe hole (whether the hole was deliberatelyformed on constituted the damage to be repaired) may be cutout and replaced by, a sound pa-rtaspartor therepair-or other opera-- tion. -,'IFhereaf -ter--the frozenlength is thawed.

2 To enabletheinvention to-bemore fully understo'ody'adetaileddescription of one complete repairing operation and ofthe preferred equipment useddnitwiil now. be given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

:Fi'gure "i shows atypical situation in which a srviceqoipe must be repaired;

Figures-2,3,- 4 and-5 illustrate four successive stagesin the repairing" operation Figure-6 is an elevation, partly in section, of a clip-used in the process Figure 7 is a section on the line VIIVII in Figure 6; e

"Figure 3 illustrates stages in the formation of theice plug; p

' igure 'aillustrates the use of a modified piece the=pi'pe.-'"It seems 'that the ice plug; which is of"equipment;"and

tastes Figure is a fragmentary, vertical view, partly in section, of a detail of the device shown in Figure 9.

Referring first to Figure 1, it is assumed that a water service pipe I made of iron and leading from a main '2 to domestic premises, is controlled by a stop-cock 3 and has burst between the said stop-cock and the said main, the burst resulting in a split indicated at in Figure 6. To perform the necessary repairs, a portable plant 5, constructed as described in our said application Serial No. 623,308 and including a two-part container 6 for assembly around a length of the pipe, the plant and container together constituting a mechanical refrigerating apparatus, is brought to the site. The equipment brought to the site also includes a two-part clip I and a device 8 for straightening the pipe.

First the stop-cock 3 is closed and then the clip i is assembled around the split 4. This clip consists of two semi-cylindrical metal parts 9 and 9 hinged together at In and provided with co-operating flanges H and 112 through which they can be secured together by bolts 13 on which are threaded butterfly nuts 13' so that the whole device can be tightened around the pipe. Internally the device is provided with a rubber lining which is split as shown at It so that it can be opened out to engage over the pipe and will thereafter close tightly on the pipe. At each end, this rubber lining makes close contact with the pipe as shown at l5 and IE, but for the greater part of its length it is formed with a continuous helical groove i8, the turns of this groove being connected by an axial groove 19 so that water escaping through the split 4 is led by the groove 18 to the groove IS. A radial bore 28 is also made in the rubber lining and leads fromthe groove I9 to an adjustable drip cock 2 I. When the complete device has been assembled around the pipe as shown in Figure 2, the drip cock 2| is adjusted until water flows through it as a trickle.

Next, unless the pipe I is absolutely straight, a length of it between the clip I and the main 2 is straightened by means of the two-part straightening device 8. As shown in Figure 3, this device includes bolts 22 on which handled nuts 23 are tightened up so as to compress the pipe 1' between two parallel grooves 26 on the two opposed parts of the device. The device 8 is then removed and the refrigerating container 6 is assembled around the straightened length of pipe. In carrying out the present invention, any type of refrigerating apparatus may be used, but the container 5 illustrated constitutes an expansion chamber for refrigerant circulated through pipes 25 and '26 by a compressor driven by a small internal-combustion engine, both these machines forming part of the portable plant 5. As a result of the circulation of the refrigerant, the water flowing through the straightened length of pipe is frozen in the successive stages illustrated by Figure 8, which shows clearly how a hollow plug 21 of ice builds up around a bore 28 until the plug becomes solid as shown at 29. In consequence, there is no risk of the pipe bursting or being strained because of radial expansion of the internal ice plug. As soon as this plug 29 has been formed so that flow has been stopped upstream of the clip I, the latter is removed and the defective length of pipe cut out as shown in Figure 5. A sound length of pipe is then inserted and the repair is then complete. The refrigerating container 6 may then accordingly be removed and the frozen length of pipe thawed. If desired, the thawing may be acceler- 4 ated by heating the pipe with a burner flame or otherwise.

The clip I is particularly useful when the pipe to be repaired is made of iron. When the pipe is made of lead, it is easy to form a hole in it for the purpose of allowing the water to flow as a trickle or drip, and this is often simpler than surrounding the damaged part by a device such as the clip I. Figure 9 shows a lead pipe 30 which is defective as shown at 3| and which must, accordingly, be repaired. First the pipe 3!] is subjected to external pressure to close it completely in the area 32, which area is upstream of the defeet 3!. Then at a point further upstream, a device 33 constituting a combined hollow piercer and dripcock and including means for engaging the pipe and driving the piercer into the pipe, is assembled around the pipe. This device 33 comprises a frame 34 with a V-shaped bottom portion 34 which hooks round the pipe, and an upper arm 35 tapped to receive a threaded spindle 36. The head 37 of this spindle 38 receives a transverselydisposed sliding handle 38 by means of which the spindle 36 may be rotated. The lower end of the spindle 38 enters an undercut recess 50 in a cross-member d5,whichcross-m'ember is mounted to slide vertically on the frame 34. A bore 51 is made in the cross-member 48 through the wall defining the recess 58, and. the end of the spindle 35 is formed with a transverse hole 52 for the receipt of a split-pin 53. This pin is inserted while the hole 52 is in register with the bore 5|, and when it is in position in the spindle it lies wholly within the recess 50 but overlaps the edges of the upper opening of that recess. Accordingly, by turning the spindle 36 in one direction, its lower end will bear on the base of the recess 50 and will force the cross-member 4!] downwards, and on turning the spindle 35 in an opposite direction, the cross-member 40 will be moved upwards due to the engagement of the end of the split pin 53 with the undercut walls defining the top of recess 50.

The underside of the cross-member 4B is formed with a threaded socket 44 which receives the head of a plug 4|. This plug projects out from the socket and has a shank which is made of a hard meta1 and is square in cross-section. The plug acts as a piercer and draw-off device for liquid, so the end of its shank is of small cross-section and perforations 42 leading to an axial bore 43 are made in the Wall Of the shank. The bore 43 opens into the base of the socket M and a passage 45 runs from this through the cross-member 40 to a drip-cock 46 provided with an adjustable needle valve 4'1.

In operation, the assembly of the device 33 around the pipe is effected by raising the crossmember 40 by rotating the spindle 36 sufliciently to permit the V portion 34 of the frame 3d to engage beneath the pipe 30, and the spindle 36 is then rotated by means of the sliding handle 38 to cause the perforated and tapered shank of the plug 1! to be forced through the wall and into the bore of the pipe 38. This action securely fixes the whole device 33 to the pipe and also efiectively seals the tapered shank of the plug 4| in the pipe. By adjusting the needle valve 47, a steady drip is obtained and the pipe can then be frozen upstream of the device 33 by the refrigerating container 8 as described above in connection with Figures 1 to 8, the length to be frozen being first straightened if necessary. Once the ipe has been frozen, the whole device 33 can be removed and the complete length containing the hole made by the shank of the plug 4|, the closed part 32 and the defect 31, can be cut out and replaced by a sound length.

We claim:

1. A method of stopping the flow of liquid through a pipe to permit removal and replacement of a damaged portion of said pipe, which consists in initially reducing the flow of liquid through the pipe to a controlled trickle which escapes as a drip at a point intermediate the ends of the pipe, and then freezing the water within a section of the pipe upstream with respect to the point of escape of the drip to thus form an ice plug within said section which completely stops the flow of liquid through the pipe.

2. A method of stopping the flow of liquid through a pipe as defined in claim 1, in which there is a hole in the damaged portion of the pipe, and in which the initial reduction of flow to a controlled trickle is effected by controlling the escape of the drip through said hole.

3. A method or" stopping the flow of liquid through a pipe as defined in claim 1, in which a perforation is made in the pipe at a point upstream with respect to the damaged portion of said pipe and downstream with respect to the section of the pipe in which the liquid is to be frozen, and in which the initial reduction of flow to a controlled trickle is effected by controlling the escape of the drip through said perforation.

4. A method of repairing a damaged intermediate portion of a liquid-conveying pipe which consists in initially reducing the flow of liquid through the pipe to a controlled trickle which escapes as a drip at a point intermediate the ends of the pipe; freezing the water within a section of the pipe upstream with respect to the point of escape of the drip, and also upstream with respect to the damaged portion of said pipe, to form an ice plug within said section which completely stops the flow of liquid through the pipe; removing the damaged portion of said pipe; replacing said portion by a sound portion; and then thawing the section of the pipe to remove the ice plug therefrom.

5. A method of stopping the flow of l q through a pipe to permit removal and replacement of a damaged intermediate portion of said pipe, which consists in completely stopping the flow of liquid through said pipe at a point upstream with respect to said damaged portion, making a perforation in said pipe for the escape of liquid at a point upstream with respect to the area of complete stoppage, controlling the flow of liquid through said perforation to initially reduce the flow of liquid through the part of said pipe upstream with respect to said stoppage to a controlled trickle, and then freezing the Water within a section of the pipe upstream with respect to said perforation to thus form an ice plug within said section which completely stops the flow of liquid through said pipe.

6. A method of repairing a damaged intermediate portion of a liquid-conveying pipe which consists in completely stopping the flow of liquid through said pipe at a point upstream with respect to said damaged portion, making a perforation in said pipe for the escape of liquid at a point upstream with respect to the area of complete stoppage, controlling the flow of liquid through said perforation to initially reduce the flow of liquid through the part of said pipe upstream with respect to said stoppage to a controlled trickle, freezing the Water within a section of the pipe upstream with respect to said perforation to thus form an ice plug within said section which completely stops the flow of liquid through said pipe, removing the damaged portion of said pipe, replacing said portion by a sound portion, and then thawing the section of the pipe to remove the ice plug therefrom.

7. A method of stopping the flow of liquid through a pipe to permit removal and replacement of a damaged portion of said pipe which portion has a hole therein, which consists in controlling the flow of liquid through said hole to initially reduce the escape of liquid through said hole and the flow through said pipe to a controlled trickle which escapes as a drip at a point intermediate the ends of the pipe, and then freezing the water within a section of the pipe upstream with respect to the point of escape of the drip to thus form an ice plug within said section which completely stops the flow of liquid through said pipe.

8. Apparatus for use in a process for stopping the flow of liquid through a pipe to permit removal and replacement of a damaged portion of said pipe which portion has a hole therein, comprising a member surrounding the portion of said pipe having the hole therein, said member having end portions adapted for sealing contact with the outer surface of said pipe and having an intermediate portion adapted with the outer surface of said pipe to form a passage for the flow of liquid from said hole, and an adjustable drip cock mounted on said member and having a valve controlled discharge passage communicating with said intermediate portion of said member for controlling the escape of liquid from said hole.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the member is composed of two semi-cylindrical sections adapted for clamping engagement into tight surface contact with the pipe, and wherein a groove within the intermediate portion of the member conveys liquid from the hole in the pipe to the adjustable drip cook.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein the member has a rubber lining having end portions which effectively seal the ends of the member with the surface of the enclosed pipe, and wherein the intermediate portion of said rubber lining is provided with a groove which conducts the liquid from the hole in the pipe to the adjustable drip cock.

THOMAS NICHOLAS YOUNG. ERIC GUY BRIAN GLEDHILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,257,727 Bennett et al Oct. 7, 1941 2,261,028 Hopkins Oct. 28, 1941 

